I started to write a long answer to this, but it's far too late as I sit here at work and wait on a server to finish getting over some hardware troubles.

The Model 1050, 950, and 1070 have been developed by Outlaw from scratch in conjunction with Eastech. This process is very time consuming (as both the 950 and 1070 have proven). The Model 990 is a highly modified cousin of the Etronics/Sherwood P-965, with those fairly numerous modifications stemming from Outlaw's effort to develop what ended up being both big brother and successor to the 950. It would have been cool for Outlaw to have both the 950 and 990 on the market at once, but the price spread between them and the feature set differences would have made for an odd product offering - hence the decision to retire the three-year-old 950. Had Outlaw done what Boston Acoustics appears to have done (whip up a new faceplate for the P-965/R-965 and hang their name on it), I would have been a little disappointed - but considering the refinements made to the P-965 platform for the Model 990, I'm quite pleased with the arrangement.

Now, to try to figure out if I can get any more done with this server before I have to go to sleep...